Background

The Indian Rubber Institute (IRI) is a professional body of the Technologists, engineers, Scientists, Academicians, professional individuals and organizations associated with Indian rubber industry. It was registered on 25 th May 1987 under West Bengal Societies Act XXVI of 1961, and is the successor in India of Plastics and Rubber Institute (PRI), London, U.K. The IRI was formally inaugurated by Mr. N. H. Godfrey, the then Chairman of Council, PRI, U.K. on 17 September, 1988 at New Delhi. The first meeting of the Governing Council of the IRI was held on 1st July, 1988 at the Ambassador Hotel, Mumbai. The IRI is a non-profit organization engaged in the development of diverse areas of rubber technological education, training and skill upgradation in Rubber sector.

Under the auspices of the Institute of Rubber Industry, U.K., an international body founded in 1921, an Indian Advisory Committee of the Institute was set up for the first time in India in 1946 with headquarters at Kolkata. The inaugural ceremony was held at the University College of Science, Kolkata under the Chairmanship of Mr. F. Brierley.

During 1947 the Indian Advisory Committee was reconstituted into a full-fledged Indian Section of the Institute of Rubber Industry (IRI), U.K. The Indian Section of the IRI was fortunate to have the blessings of distinguished scientists, technologists and industrialists including Sir J.C. Bose, Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar and others. The Late Dr. D. Banerjee acted as Honorary Secretary of Institute of Rubber Industry (IRI), UK, Indian Section for several years.

As an institute, it has always been managed voluntarily by its members, who have dedicated time and efforts to the education and training of new entrants to the industry. During the intervening years the institute spread its activities across Indiawith eight branches and four sub branches. Its members served the industry with distinction, both in India and abroad, and are the back bone of the technological infrastructure of the industry.